Best places: Wildlife refuges in Cartago, Costa Rica

Sprawling preserve with beaches & wetlands, protecting a vast coral reef & mangrove oyster beds.

👍👍 Amazing rescue center that clearly respect their animals! I've been a volunteer myself in Costa Rica before and it shows that this place is full of animal lovers! We had a tour with Ryan who was really insightful and friendly overall! If you value animals, don't miss this place!

👍👍 Excellent tour. Highly recommend! Better than spotting a single sloth or toucan in the wild. Here at the animal refuge you are up close and personal, with a knowledgeable guide answering every question. I learned so much. The opportunity for photos guarantees great shots, even with a cell phone. We...

👍👍 This was an incredible experience!!! They say expect to stay for 1-2 hours. We spent just short of four hours because we saw so much wildlife. We took our time and walked slow to see as much as possible including an owl, toucans, poison frogs, many other birds, a baby sloth, 4 other sloths, fish, b...

👍👍 Beautiful calm water beach, interesting surroundings. Watch out for Crocodiles!!! If you want to feel connected with nature this is it!!! Easy acces. Most times I've been here there is very few peoole. Camping area and services. Lots of wildlife and things to see. Walk around the rocks and you may f...

14-hectare rescue center with wildlife on display & canopy tours, plus a restaurant & souvenir shop.

Natural habitat providing a sanctuary for plants, insects, birds, reptiles & other animals.

Rare birds, mammals & fish are all found in this remote nature reserve on the northern border.

👍👍 The night tour with Roy was great! Interactive fun! I saw a red eye frog, 2 vipers, a scorpion, Mexican harry porcupine, leaf bug and A SLOTH! And so much more. Very informative. I wish I had done this before my day trip through the Forrest Best tour of my trip. Thanks Roy!

Refuge with trails offering diverse wildlife views, plus water routes & activities like snorkeling.

👍👍 Just an amazing place where people REALLY help animals. This rescue center is so far away from typical tourist attractions, so you will have real expensive with animals and care of them. More than that they have a lot of sloth and you be able to see them!

👍👍 One of many highlights during my visit and certainly near the top. A relatively unknown walk and waterfall it appeared after discussing it with others including some experienced tour guides. Definitely a good 3 hour round walk including the falls. Good walking footwear a must. Entrance to falls and...

👍👍 Wonderful, small turtle sanctuary where Rio Claro enters the pacific. when the tide is high and you can't cross the river by foot, they ferry you over by boat. The very friendly young Canadian volunteer explained us all about the project. Very interesting.

👍👍 This place is SO underrated. A must see. The best most authentic honest education about the land, the impact of humans and how we can help! Brenda and the team are amazing. This place is simple, real and raw. I’ve been leading retreats for 10 years in Nosara and we ALWAYS bring our group here.Thank...

👍👍 Sibu is a wonderful and unique place where injured and orphan wildlife can find a new, safe home. The owner is an incredible women, very knowledgeable who will make you see the world in a different way. I absolutely love this place and highly recommend visit it when it opens again in a few weeks.

😐 Well, private property, we where not welcome

👍👍 Fantastic volunteer run facility to look after animals - get a tour of the sanctuary and you can see some of the animals they look after up close. Great guides especially Jose! Watch out for the road directions the turning to the right is earlier then google maps says it is as there is no road othe...

😐 Cool place and monkeys, sloths, lots of critters inside but the staff left a lot to be desired.